KR101325804B1 - Broadcasting program reservation apparatus and method for broadcasting receiver - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a broadcast program reservation apparatus and a broadcast program reservation method of a broadcast receiver which reserves / views / records a broadcast program using EPG information.

According to the present invention, when a series broadcasting program reservation is set, the reservation setting information of the corresponding series broadcasting program is updated using EPG information periodically received from an EPG information server connected through a network, and the series broadcasting is performed according to the updated reservation setting information. The reservation operation of the program is performed. As a result, when the series reservation watching or reservation recording of the series broadcasting program is set, viewing or recording is automatically enabled until the series broadcasting program ends. In addition, even when the scheduled time of the preset broadcast program is changed, the reservation operation of the corresponding broadcast program is performed through the EPG information.

EPG information, reservation viewing, reservation recording

Description

BROADCASTING PROGRAM RESERVATION APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR BROADCASTING RECEIVER}

1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a broadcast receiver to which the broadcast program reservation apparatus of the present invention is applied.

Figure 2 is a flow chart showing an embodiment of a reservation viewing method of a series program in a broadcast program reservation method of the broadcast receiver of the present invention.

Figure 3 is a flow chart showing another embodiment of a reservation recording method of a series program in a broadcast program reservation method of the broadcast receiver of the present invention.

4A illustrates an example of EPG information displayed on a screen at the request of a user in the broadcast program reservation method of the present invention.

Figure 4b is a view showing a message displayed on the screen when overlapping with the pre-set reservation information when setting the broadcast program reservation in the broadcast program reservation method of the present invention as an example.

DESCRIPTION OF THE REFERENCE NUMERALS

100: broadcast program reservation device 110: reserved viewing / recording setting unit

112: communication module 114: EPG information management unit

116: reservation setting unit 118: event generating unit

120: reservation viewing / recording processing unit

The present invention relates to a broadcast program reservation apparatus and a broadcast program reservation method of a broadcast receiver which reserves / views / records a broadcast program using EPG information.

The broadcasting station transmits not only the video / audio signal, that is, the guide information about the broadcast program, but also the broadcast program to the broadcast receiver.

Recordable devices for a broadcast program, such as a VTR (Video Tape Recorder) or PVR (Personal Video Recorder), are recorded by the user. Conventionally, in performing a reserved recording for a specific broadcast program, if a preset recording is set in advance by using information of a specific broadcast program to be recorded, the broadcast receiver records according to the reserved recording information. That is, the user directly inputs the broadcast program channel information, the broadcast program start time, and the broadcast program end time information using the user interface, and sets the reservation recording so that the recording is performed in the broadcast receiver.

Accordingly, when a user selects a specific broadcast program through broadcast program guide information transmitted from a broadcasting station and sets a reservation recording, a method of making a reservation recording accordingly is used. The broadcast program guide information includes a unique ID (name) of a broadcast program, a start time of a broadcast program, an end time of a broadcast program, and the like.

However, in order to schedule recording of a series broadcast program that is periodically broadcasted like a drama, it is inconvenient to record a corresponding broadcast program by setting a reservation recording before each broadcast program starts.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a broadcast program reservation apparatus of a broadcast receiver for updating reservation information for a broadcast program for which reservation is made using EPG (Eletronic Program Guide) information provided by an EPG information server. There is.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a broadcast program reservation method of a broadcast receiver capable of watching / recording a series broadcast program at a preset time by setting a series reservation viewing / reservation recording.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a broadcast program reservation method of a broadcast receiver for notifying when the time information overlaps with pre-stored reservation information in the reservation information when setting a broadcast program reservation and, if solved, saving the reservation information. have.

The broadcast program reservation apparatus of the broadcast receiver of the present invention for achieving the above object updates the reserved viewing / recording information of the set broadcast program through EPG information which is periodically updated when the reserved viewing / recording of the broadcast program is set. A reservation viewing / recording setting unit; And checking whether or not the current time and the viewing / recording time coincide according to the reserved viewing / recording information of the reserved viewing / recording setting unit. And a reservation viewing / recording processing unit for processing to be performed.

The reservation viewing / recording setting unit, the communication module for transmitting and receiving data with the EPG information server connected via a network; The EPG information server determines whether the EPG information of the EPG information server is updated through the communication module at predetermined intervals, and stores the EPG information received from the EPG information server when the EPG information is updated. An EPG information management unit which provides the stored EPG information when inputted; And the reservation viewing / recording information for the broadcast program reserved by the EPG information provided by the EPG information management unit, and when the EPG information for the broadcast program for which the reservation is set is updated, the corresponding broadcast program from the EPG information. And a reservation setting unit for extracting and updating reservation viewing / recording information for the.

The update of the reservation viewing / recording information of the reservation setting unit may delete the reservation viewing / recording information of the stored broadcasting program, and extract and store the reservation viewing / recording information of the broadcasting program from the updated EPG information. It is done.

The reserved viewing / recording information may include a series identification ID, a broadcast program identification ID, a channel ID, and broadcast program time information.

The reservation setting unit may include: an event generating unit generating duplicate reservation viewing / recording information for notifying when the time information overlaps with previously stored reservation viewing / recording information in the reservation viewing / recording information for the broadcasting program for which the reservation is set; It characterized in that it further comprises.

The reservation viewing / recording information of the series program may be updated by using the series identification ID when the reservation viewing / recording of the series broadcasting program is set.

The broadcast program reservation method of the broadcast receiver of the present invention comprises the steps of: displaying the EPG information on the screen according to the user's request EPG information; Storing reservation viewing / recording information for the series broadcasting program when selecting a series broadcasting program and setting series reservation viewing / recording using the displayed EPG information; Determining whether the EPG information for the series broadcast program for which the reservation is set is updated; If it is determined that the EPG information for the series broadcast program for which the reservation is set is updated, extracting the reservation viewing / recording information from the updated EPG information to update the reservation viewing / recording information; And performing a reservation viewing / recording operation of the corresponding series broadcast program according to the updated reservation viewing / recording information.

The reserved viewing / recording information may include a series identification ID, a broadcast program identification ID, a channel ID, and broadcast program time information.

When selecting a series program using the EPG information and setting a series reservation viewing / recording, if time information is duplicated in the previously stored reservation viewing / recording information, the redundant reservation viewing / recording information is displayed on the screen. When the duplication is resolved, the reserved viewing / recording information for the series program is stored.

The reservation viewing / recording information is updated by deleting the reserved viewing / recording information for the set series broadcasting program using the series identification ID, and the reserved viewing / recording information for the series broadcasting program from the updated EPG information. It is characterized by extracting and storing.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the following description of the present invention, detailed description of known functions and configurations incorporated herein will be omitted when it may make the subject matter of the present invention rather unclear.

1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a broadcast receiver to which the broadcast program reservation apparatus of the present invention is applied.

Referring to FIG. 1, a broadcast receiver separates a video / audio stream and broadcast program guide information from a tuner unit 101 that receives a broadcast signal of a predetermined channel through an antenna, and a broadcast signal received by the tuner unit 101. A broadcast signal separation unit 102, a memory 103 for storing broadcast program guide information separated by the broadcast signal separation unit 102, an image separated by the broadcast signal separation unit 102 according to a control command, and In the PVR 104 for storing and outputting an audio stream, the video / audio processing unit 105 for signal processing the video / audio stream separated by the broadcasting signal separating unit 102, and the video / audio processing unit 105 A video / audio output unit 106 for outputting the processed video / audio signal, a user interface 108 for generating an operation command according to a user's operation, and broadcasting according to a command input through the user interface 108 Program reservation A broadcast program reservation apparatus 100 for setting and storing blue / recording, processing to perform reservation viewing / recording according to the reserved reservation viewing / recording information, and a microprocessor 130 for controlling each unit; Each unit exchanges data via the data bus 107.

The tuner unit 101 tunes from a plurality of broadcast signals input through an antenna and receives a broadcast signal of a predetermined channel transmitted by a predetermined broadcast station.

The broadcast signal separator 102 separates the video / audio stream and the broadcast program guide information from the broadcast signal received by the tuner 101 and transmits the same to the video / audio processor 105 and the PVR 104.

The memory 103 stores broadcast program guide information separated by the broadcast signal separation unit 102.

The PVR 104 stores a video / audio stream separated by the broadcast signal separator 102, that is, a broadcast program according to a control command, and outputs the stored broadcast program.

The video / audio processor 105 decodes and processes the video / audio stream separated by the broadcast signal separator 102 into a video / audio signal, and processes the processed video / audio signal through the video / audio output unit 106. To send. Also, the video / audio processor 105 decodes and processes the video / audio stream output from the PVR 104 into a video / audio signal, and transmits the processed video / audio signal to the video / audio output unit 106. do.

The video / audio output unit 106 displays the video signal processed by the video / audio processor 105 on the screen and outputs the audio signal through the speaker.

The user interface 108 generates a corresponding operation command according to a user's operation.

The broadcast program reservation apparatus 100 includes a reserved viewing / recording setting unit 110 and a reserved viewing / recording processing unit 120.

The reservation viewing / recording setting unit 110 is a communication module 112 for transmitting and receiving data to and from an EPG information server (not shown) connected through the network 140, and received from the EPG information server through the communication module 112. When the EPG information of the EPG information management unit 114 for storing the EPG information and providing the stored EPG information when the EPG information request is input, and the EPG information management unit 114 for the reserved broadcast program is updated. And a reservation setting unit 116 for extracting and updating reservation setting information for the broadcast program from the EPG information.

The EPG information manager 114 checks whether the EPG information of the EPG information server is updated at predetermined intervals through the communication module 112. When the EPG information of the EPG information server is updated, the EPG information management unit 114 transmits a message requesting EPG information to the EPG information server, and accordingly the EPG previously stored as the EPG information received through the communication module 112. Update the information. The EPG information server professionally provides EPG information, and the EPG information received from the EPG information server includes a series identification ID, a broadcast program identification ID, a channel ID, a broadcast program start time information, a broadcast program end time information, and a recommended broadcast program. And plot. Here, the series identification ID is a unique ID assigned to each series broadcast program, and in the case of the short broadcast program, a special ID such as "0" may be assigned to determine whether the series broadcast ID is a series broadcast program.

The EPG information manager 114 displays previously stored EPG information on the screen when the user inputs a command for requesting EPG information by manipulating the user interface 108. In addition, the EPG information manager 114 provides various menus related to the setting of a broadcast program in displaying the EPG information. For example, as shown in FIG. 4A, a user searches for various broadcast programs using EPG information displayed on the screen, commands viewing / recording of a program currently being broadcast, or reserves a broadcast program that has not yet started. In addition to viewing / scheduling recording, series broadcasting programs can be ordered only for series broadcasting programs.

The reservation setting unit 116 stores reservation information on a broadcast program that is reserved through the EPG information provided by the EPG information management unit 114, and sets reservations among updated EPG information of the EPG information management unit 114. It is checked whether updated EPG information for the broadcast program exists. The reservation setting unit 116 extracts and updates reservation information for the broadcast program from the updated EPG information of the EPG information management unit 114 when there is updated EPG information for the reserved broadcast program. The update of the reservation information is performed by deleting reservation information of a corresponding broadcast program stored in advance and newly storing reservation information of a corresponding broadcast program from the updated EPG information.

The reservation setting unit 116 updates reservation information by using the series identification ID included in the EPG information when the reserved broadcast program is a series broadcast program.

The reservation setting unit 116 solves the case where the time information of the reservation information for the broadcasting program reserved by the EPG information provided by the EPG information management unit 114 overlaps with the time information of the previously stored reservation information. And an event generator 118 for displaying duplicate reservation information on the screen. For example, as shown in FIG. 4B, duplicate reservation time information and currently set reservation information are displayed on the screen among the stored information, and the reservation time of the duplicate broadcast program is displayed through the duplicate reservation information displayed on the screen by the user. If the duplicate is resolved by modifying or deleting the duplicate broadcast program, the currently set reservation information is stored. In addition, the reservation setting unit 116 does not delete the reservation information modified by the user according to the duplicate reservation information as described above, even if the EPG information is updated, and manages it separately through the corresponding broadcast program identification ID.

The reserved viewing / recording processing unit 120 continuously checks the current time and the set time and determines whether or not the reserved broadcasting program exists in the reserved viewing / recording setting unit 110 to match.

The reserved viewing / recording processing unit 120 outputs a signal of the broadcast program on the screen when the viewing setting time and the present time coincide. In addition, the reserved viewing / recording processing unit 120 allows the signal of the broadcast program to be stored in the PVR 104 when the recording setting time and the current time coincide. The reserved viewing / recording processing unit 120 performs the highest priority viewing / recording information and deletes the completed viewing / recording setting information. In addition, the reserved viewing / recording processing unit 120 judges the next viewing / recording setting information, and registers the viewing / recording setting information when the next viewing / recording setting information exists, and the viewing / recording setting time and the current time are different. Wait for a match.

The microprocessor 130 controls each unit according to an operation command input through the user interface 108 to perform the corresponding operation. In addition, the microprocessor 130 allows all or partial deletion to be performed on the broadcast program recording list stored in the PVR 104 according to the deletion command input through the user interface 108.

In the above, the main purpose of the present invention has been described using the reservation viewing / recording setting for a broadcast program as an example. However, the EPG information is displayed and the user can set the viewing or recording by operating the user interface 108 for the currently broadcast program. In this case, it is natural that the broadcast receiver records the broadcast program by converting the channel into a corresponding channel so that the user can watch the broadcast program or by tuning and storing the broadcast signal of the channel.

2 is a flowchart illustrating a reservation viewing method in the broadcast program reservation method of the present invention.

The broadcast receiver periodically accesses the EPG information server to determine whether the EPG information is updated, and stores the EPG information received from the EPG information server when the EPG information is updated (S200).

When the user inputs a command for requesting EPG information through the user interface 108 (S202), the broadcast receiver displays the EPG information on the screen (S204). The EGP information includes a series identification ID, broadcast program identification ID, channel ID, broadcast program start time information, broadcast program end time information, recommended broadcast program, and plot.

If a broadcast program is selected using the EPG information displayed on the screen (S206), and a series reservation is set (S208), the broadcast receiver determines the series identification ID of the corresponding broadcast program from the EPG information, and selects the reservation viewing information. Extract (S210).

The broadcast receiver extracts the reservation viewing information of the broadcast program from the EPG information and determines whether the time information is duplicated in the previously stored reservation viewing information (S212). When the time information of the reservation viewing information set above is duplicated with the time information of the reservation viewing information previously stored, the duplicate reservation viewing information is displayed on the screen (S214). That is, among the currently set reservation viewing information and stored reservation viewing information, the reservation viewing information overlapping with the currently set reservation viewing information is displayed on the screen.

The broadcast receiver stores the currently set reservation viewing information when the redundancy is resolved by correcting the reservation time through the duplicate reservation viewing information or by deleting previous reservation viewing information of a specific broadcast program (S216).

In addition, the broadcast receiver waits until the viewing setting time according to the set reservation viewing information, and determines whether EPG information for a series identification ID corresponding to the reserved series broadcasting program is updated (S220). When the EPG information for the series identification ID is updated, the reservation request information is extracted and updated from the updated EPG information (S222).

The broadcast receiver determines whether the current time matches the updated viewing time based on the updated reservation viewing information (S224) and tunes the signal of the corresponding broadcasting program when the current time and the updated viewing time correspond to the updated time. And output (play) (S226).

When the broadcast program is played, the broadcast receiver determines whether the reserved viewing information for the corresponding series identification ID exists (S228).

The broadcast receiver determines whether EPG information for the corresponding series identification ID is updated (S220) through EPG information periodically updated when reservation request information for the corresponding series identification ID exists (S220).

On the other hand, if the EPG information for the series identification ID corresponding to the reserved series broadcasting program is not updated, the broadcast receiver determines whether the current time and the viewing setting time correspond to each other according to the pre-stored reservation viewing information. In operation S224, when the current time and the viewing setting time coincide, the signal of the corresponding broadcast program is tuned and output (played back) (S226).

3 is a flowchart illustrating another example of a reservation recording method in the broadcast program reservation method of the present invention.

The broadcast receiver periodically accesses the EPG information server to determine whether the EPG information is updated, and stores the EPG information received from the EPG information server when the EPG information is updated (S300).

When the user inputs a command for requesting EPG information through the user interface 108 (S302), the broadcast receiver displays the EPG information on the screen (S304). The EGP information includes a series identification ID, broadcast program identification ID, channel ID, broadcast program start time information, broadcast program end time information, recommended broadcast program, and plot.

If a broadcast program is selected using the EPG information displayed on the screen (S306), and a series reserved recording is set (S308), the broadcast receiver determines the series identification ID of the corresponding broadcast program from the EPG information, and selects the reserved recording information. Extract (S310).

The broadcast receiver extracts the reservation recording information of the broadcast program from the EPG information and determines whether the time information is duplicated in the previously recorded reservation recording information (S312). When the time information of the reservation recording information set above is overlapped with the time information of the pre-stored reservation recording information, the duplicate reservation recording information is displayed on the screen (S314). That is, the reservation recording information overlapping the currently set reservation recording information among the currently set reservation recording information and stored reservation recording information is displayed on the screen.

The broadcast receiver stores the currently set reservation recording information when the duplication is resolved by modifying the reservation time through the duplicate reservation recording information or by deleting previous reservation recording information of a specific broadcast program (S316).

In addition, the broadcast receiver waits until the recording set time according to the set reservation recording information, and determines whether EPG information for the series identification ID corresponding to the reserved series broadcasting program is updated (S320). When the EPG information on the identification ID is updated, the reservation recording information is extracted from the updated EPG information and updated (S322).

The broadcast receiver determines whether the current time coincides with the updated recording setting time according to the updated reservation recording information (S324), and when the current time and the updated recording setting time coincide, tuning the signal of the corresponding broadcasting program. And store (S326).

When the broadcast program is recorded, the broadcast receiver determines whether the reserved recording information for the corresponding series identification ID exists (S328).

The broadcast receiver determines whether the EPG information for the corresponding series identification ID is updated through the EPG information periodically updated when the reservation recording information for the corresponding series identification ID exists (S320).

On the other hand, if the EPG information for the series identification ID corresponding to the reserved series broadcasting program is not updated, the broadcast receiver determines whether the current time and the recording setting time correspond to each other according to the pre-stored reserved recording information. When the current time and the recording setting time coincide with each other (S324), the signal of the corresponding broadcast program is tuned and stored (S326).

On the other hand, while the invention has been shown and described with respect to specific preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains without departing from the scope of the present invention with respect to the above-described embodiment It will be readily appreciated that various modifications and variations can be made. Therefore, the scope of the present invention should not be limited to the described embodiments, but should be defined by the claims below and equivalents thereof.

As described in detail above, according to the present invention, since EPG information is periodically received from an EPG information server connected through a network, even if a series reservation is set for a series broadcast program, the reservation for the series broadcast program is performed using the updated EPG information. By updating the setting information, the reserved function is normally executed until the series broadcast program is terminated. That is, the series broadcast program can be viewed or recorded with one series reservation watching or series reservation recording setting.

In addition, since the EPG information is periodically updated from an EPG information server that specializes in providing EPG information, the reserved function of the corresponding program is normally performed even if the scheduled time of the reserved broadcast program is changed.

Claims (10)

Reserved viewing / recording information-series identification ID, broadcasting program identification ID, channel ID, and broadcasting of the set broadcast program through EPG information periodically updated when reserved viewing or recording (viewing / recording) of a broadcast program is set. A reservation viewing / recording setting unit for updating the program containing time information; And If the current time and the viewing / recording time coincide with each other according to the reserved viewing / recording information of the reserved viewing / recording setting unit, the reserved viewing / recording of the corresponding broadcast program is performed. Includes a reservation viewing / recording processing unit for processing to be performed, wherein the reservation viewing / recording setting unit, Communication module for transmitting and receiving data with the EPG information server connected via a network; The EPG information server determines whether the EPG information of the EPG information server is updated through the communication module at predetermined intervals, and stores the EPG information received from the EPG information server when the EPG information is updated. An EPG information manager which provides stored EPG information when inputted; The reservation viewing / recording information for the broadcast program reserved by the EPG information provided by the EPG information management unit is stored, and when the EPG information for the broadcast program for which the reservation is set is updated, the EPG information for the corresponding broadcast program is stored. A reservation setting unit which extracts and updates the reservation viewing / recording information; And And an event generating unit for generating duplicate reservation viewing / recording information for notifying when the time information in the reservation viewing / recording information for the broadcasting program for which reservation is set is duplicated with the reserved viewing / recording information stored before setting, And generating the duplicated reservation viewing / recording information by the generation unit, wherein the reservation setting unit deletes any one of the reservation viewing / recording information duplicated by the deletion request of the user. delete The update of the reservation viewing / recording information of the reservation setting unit, And deleting the reserved viewing / recording information for the stored broadcasting program and extracting and storing the reserved viewing / recording information for the corresponding broadcasting program from the updated EPG information. delete delete The method of claim 1, And if the reserved viewing / recording of a series broadcasting program is set, updating the reserved viewing / recording information of the series broadcasting program using the series identification ID. Displaying the EPG information on the screen according to the user's request for EPG information; When selecting a series broadcast program using the displayed EPG information and setting a series reservation viewing or recording (viewing / recording), the reserved viewing / recording information-series identification ID, broadcast program identification ID, and channel for the series broadcasting program. Storing an ID, and broadcast program time information; If the time information is duplicated in the previously stored reservation viewing / recording information, displaying the duplicate reservation viewing / recording information on the screen and receiving a request for deleting any one reservation viewing / recording information from the user; Determining whether the EPG information for the series broadcast program for which reservation is set is updated; If it is determined that the EPG information for the series broadcast program for which reservation is set is updated, extracting the reservation viewing / recording information from the updated EPG information to update the reservation viewing / recording information; And And performing a reserved viewing / recording operation of the corresponding series broadcasting program according to the updated reserved viewing / recording information. delete delete The method of claim 7, wherein In the update of reservation viewing / recording information, the reservation viewing / recording information for the set series broadcasting program is deleted using the series identification ID, and the reservation viewing / recording information for the series broadcasting program is extracted from the updated EPG information. Broadcast program reservation method for a broadcast receiver, characterized in that for storing.

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